Using famous icons and trademarks in fine art?

Lately I’ve been playing with icons and famous cartoons for an upcoming show. I usually do my own thing, but have noticed that “Fine Art” in Asia is usually a combination of traditional/ancient art skills with modern pop culture. Paintings of Hello Kitty, KFC, Doraemon, Astro Boy etc. are huge sellers (tens of thousands of dollars for a little hello kitty painting.) Recently I’ve seen Angry Birds and other iPhone apps making an appearance in fine art. Technically all this stuff is copyrighted; so it should be illegal. If I want to use them in a graphic design and sell them on TShirts via CafePress – I can’t. So why can I sell trademarked images on paintings for big money to private collectors? No idea!

However, since it seems to be “the thing to do” I’m doing a big series. It’s much faster, simpler than the oil paintings I usually work on. It’s not particularly creative. But I’ll be giving the art world what the art world likes, and we’ll see if that pans out for me. 🙂

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Welcome!

I had some moderate success with my art career but (for the moment) have moved onto other projects and platforms, mostly publishing, design and online business (as well as research for my PhD in Literature). The site looks a little ugly as I've stopped updating it.

If this is your first time here, you can start by checking out my paintings or reading more about me. If you like what you see, please share your favorites or join my facebook page!

J.M. - Blood ran cold as my feet touched stone. Every finger on my hands felt numb, and even my shadow trembled along the cave wall. “Heathise!” I whispered and my staff lit, revealing all that lurked within the tunnel.

Pinned 1 day ago

New The Witcher 3 artwork, some nice 1080p screens for wallpapers. - Album on Imgur

Pinned 6 days ago

"You got: Jedi Shadow Jedi Shadows are the most mysterious of the Jedi Order, and some within the Jedi ranks deny they even exist at all. Shadows work directly with the Jedi First Knowledge Council and work covertly to seek out and eliminate all enemies of the light side of the Force."

Pinned 6 days ago

Mona Colfer Magic Type: Alchemical Mona and her husband share the same magic type, and they passed on a bit of it to Hayden.

Pinned 6 days ago

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About Me

I paint the bizarre and shocking convergence of images that barrage my sense of self-identity in the ever-faster insanity of contemporary postmodern global culture. My art mixes pop icons, political leaders, religious iconography and mundane object, with the aim to draw attention to viewers’ tightly protected beliefs and assumptions. Click here to learn more.